Dear Open Doors Supporters,
I am not sure where to begin! It has been an insanely busy summer with Open Doors Academy and we have seen one success after another! First in June we watched our third class of alumni graduate high school, to add to our total of 45 Open Doors High School Graduates, still maintaining a 100% high school graduation rate!
Next in the middle of June we started our 8 week summer camp programs! I am not sure I can put into words the impact these programs have had on our youth. To see is to believe and we couldn't imagine a better experience for our youth. Throughout the summer our youth studied martial arts, theater, graphic design, photography, horseback riding, art, cinematography, computer science. Not only were youth involved in full day programming throughout the summer they were fully invested!
Towards the end of June, Open Doors and its' families enjoyed a visit from American Idol winner, Ruben Studdard. In July and August, we took 30 alumni down to the mountains to rehab homes. Despite overwhelming heat and humidity and challenging work environments, the alumni persevered digging a 50 foot trench to realign a sub pump for an apartment building, demolitioned a cement porch, helped build a trench to prevent flooding for an elderly family, and helped rehab an old church in the community of Harlan.
To say it has been a busy summer, is an understatement, however to say it was our best summer yet, would be a very accurate statement. We are eager to watch the fall unfold with many more wonderful experiences ahead!
Sincerest Regards,
Annemarie M. Grassi, M.S.Ed.
Chief Executive Officer
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 Class of 2010 Heads to College
As Open Doors Academy enters its' 9th year of service in the community, another class of alumni enter into adulthood as they graduate high school and prepare for the next stage in their journey. We share an overwhelming pride for the Class of 2010 and congratulate each of our graduates:
Taylor Reynolds - Kent State University
Liam Corrigan - Cleveland State University
Lydia Craddock - Armstrong State University
Ashley Grimes - Emory University
Corbyn Wright - Howard University
Walter Quiesser - Embry-Riddle University
Alexandra Miller - Columbia University
Tatiana Dubose-Butler - Harvard University
Donald Thomas - United States Marines
Adria Adams - Akron University
Rienna Scott - Bowling Green State University
Marcus Primes - Perdue University
LaChe Thomas - Lincoln University
Mason Adkins - Undecided
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"We Run This Town"
Open Doors Academy Summer Camp
A true jewel to the Open Doors Program, the 2010 Open Doors Summer Camp proved to be both an incredible opportunity and experience for the youth of Open Doors. With 87 students enrolled in summer camp (free to our families), youth chose different camps each week ranging from Martial Arts to Cinematography. Students were engaged in structured programs from 9:30am to 4:00pm every day! Overwhelmingly students responded positively to program offerings, stretching themselves to learn things they had never believed possible. Below are a few of the highlights from our summer programs:
* Little Jacket Communications worked with Open Doors students teaching them photography, marketing through story telling, and graphic design. The culmination of this camp is the much anticipated 2010 Annual Report, which is expected to be released in October and is told first hand from the perspective of our students.
* Therapeutic Riding Center helped our youth overcome their fears of horses and for many of our students the simple fear of being in a rural environment. Students applied academic content standards to their every day experiences, learned how to care for their own horses, and after much preparation experienced riding a horse.
* At the Academy of Mantis Boxing and Thai Chi students learned the discipline of martial arts, spending seven hour days learning patience, focus, and attention to self and their environment. At the end of each week, the students tested in front of their peers, staff, and families for their first belt.
* In partnership with Progressive Arts Alliance and Judson Community Center, students spent three weeks working with senior citizens to create a 20 minute documentary on the generational differences and their influence on today's pop culture. The culmination of this project included a formal presentation at Judson in front of their peers, staff, families, and members of the community.
This is just a taste of the programs offered throughout the summer, which included over 10 different summer camp offerings! Throughout the summer we experienced minimal behavioral issues, as students were engaged in positive, structured environments that supported their growth and development. We are grateful to the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, The Deaconess Community Foundation, and those who provided individual support to make these programs possible!
 A Special Thank You to our 2010 Summer Camp Partners:
Therapeutic Riding Center
Young Audiences of Greater Cleveland
Progressive Arts Alliance
Academy of Mantis Boxing and Tai Chi
Children's Technology Workshops
Little Jacket Communications
Boxometrics, Inc.
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"Be The Change"
Harlan Alumni Service Trip 2010
So what makes our alumni come back to Harlan year after year? Spend a week away from television, internet, their friends, and cell phones? Spend 7 hours a day in the sweltering heat and sun, digging trenches, tearing up cement porches, cutting grass, and pretty much anything else that is asked of them?
Well if you ask them, they will tell you... tradition! This year each student received a t-shirt that stated "Be The Change" on the front, and a list of traditions held every year in the mountainous range of Harlan, Kentucky. These traditions have been developed over the past six years, and continue to live every year. The most dreaded tradition each year (at least to the adults), is known as the Pizza Hut Run. Initiated three years ago, as a simple bet between a staff member and one alumni has now evolved into an annual event. Each year on Thursday afternoon, the group is promised Pizza Hut for dinner (a big reward after eating chicken fingers and spaghetti all week), if every person successfully runs/walks to the top of the mountain at the camp. Prior to the race, a game face picture is taken (see above), getting everyone geared up for the run. It is an incredibly steep mountain and one that few make it up without stopping. However, despite the chest pains, heavy breathing, and pains that run through the legs, everyone starts at the bottom and eventually makes it to the top, with the support of their peers cheering them on and encouraging them along the way. It is a painful, but important tradition, and one that makes the trip so memorable.
Harlan is a magical place for the alumni of Open Doors. Several of our alumni have said it is one of the main reasons they continue to stay so close to their friends in Open Doors. It is a place where our youth leave their mark, build new friendships, rehab a few homes, and walk away with memories that are burned forever in their minds, hearts, and of course in today's tech savvy world... on Facebook!
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Saturday, September 25th
Bexley Park, South Euclid
9:30am to 3:30pm
Team Registration: $180
Individual Player Registration: $30
Register at www.hermescleveland.com
New for 2010:
*Get your Face On! Show your team spirit with face painting from 9am to 10:30am
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Mascot Dodgeball Tournament... During Lunch enjoy an entertaining face
off between Cleveland Cavaliers Moon Dog and Mongolian Barbecue's Mongo
Man
* During downtime between games, get your team caricature done or try your hand at karaoke!
* Also be sure to get your picture taken with Moon Dog, Mongo Man, and our Host Rebecca Wilde from Q104.1!
In addition all players receive:
* Tournament t-shirts
* Lunch, snacks, and nonalcoholic beverages
* Prizes to 1st & 2nd place teams for each sport.
2010 Corporate Sponsors
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Ruben Studdard Meets the
Students of Open Doors
On June 23rd, Ruben Studdard visited the students of Open Doors Academy at John Hay High School Campus. Ruben spent two hours with the youth, sharing his personal experiences growing up, overcoming challenges in life, and never giving up on your dreams. After meeting with the students, Ruben was introduced to over 700 members of the community by Fox 8 News Anchor, Wayne Dawson. Ruben won over the crowd as he spoke about supporting the youth of our community, answering community members questions, and performing a final song. He received a load roar of applause for his final performance before leaving the stage and repeatedly expressed throughout the evening how impressed he was with Open Doors Academy!
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